Container capping apparatus with means to retard actuation of the capping head until the container is stationary under said head



June 12, 1951 H. A. RAU 2,556,339

CONTAINER CAPPING APP RATUS WITH MEANS T0 RETARD ACTUATION OF THE CAPPING HEAD UNTIL THE CONTAINER IS STATIONARY UNDER SAID HEAD Filed July 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR hA RRr A. RAU

1951 H. A. RAu

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ACTUATION OF THE CAPPING HEAD UNTIL THE CONTAINER IS STATIONARY UNDER SAID HEAD Filed July 22, 1946 4'Sheets-Sheet 2 l V////////////// //////Y//1////////7//l lNVE'NTOf? H RPYA R40 WW MM June 12, 1951 2,556,339

H. A. RAU CONTAINER CAPPING APPARATUS WITH MEANS T0 RETAR ACTUATION OF THE CAPPING HEAD UNTIL THE CONTAINER IS STATIONARY UNDER SAID HEAD 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 22, 1946 my I 0 g I7 45 3iv 3|\/- is 22 g Harry A. Rcu, 1 "42 INVENTOR.

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, CONTAINER CAPPING APPARATUS WITH MEANS TO RETARD I ACTUATION OF THE CAPPING HEAD UNTIL THE CONTAINER IS STATIONARY UNDER SAID HEAD Filed July 22, 1946 4'SheetsSheet 4 Harry A. Rau

INVENTOR.

Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harry A. Rau, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Application July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,443

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to container sealing apparatus. The invention is a continuationin-part of my original application Serial No. 371,961 for Apparatus for Sealing Containers, filed December 27, 1940, now Patent No. 2,408,447, issued October 1, 1946.

An object of the invention is to provide a container sealing apparatus which will occupy a minimum of floor space.

Prior container sealing apparatus, and particularly those which include a steam chamber, occupy a comparatively long area. One purpose in providing a long steam tunnel has been to form a long enclosed area at each end of the critical cap applying and sealing points, with a view of isolating these points from outside air and obtaining high temperature at least at such points. Some types of such apparatus have been provided with capping elements of endless type and it has been thought desirable to have at'least a substantial portion of the same enclosed. by the tunnel, particularly since the element might induce drafts in the upper portion of the tunnel. By the present invention, the use of a longitudinally moving sealing element is avoided, so that the tunnel need not be extended to enclose such a device.

Use of a short tunnel, with its lower portion clear of steam, as described in my said original application, permits each container to be constantly visible. This is a highly desirable feature particularly during the initial portion of a run when it is necessary to ascertain whether the cap applying and sealing adjustments are correct.

The principal purpose of providing a lengthwise moving capping element has apparently been to enable the containers to move continuously during the sealing operation. While this proceduretheoretically gives high production, the sealing action afforded thereby is not always satisfactory, particularly when handling caps provided with holding lugs upon their skirts. Also, containers may be upset or any type of cap may be bent or dislodged when it first comes into contact with the sealing element as well as when it finally moves out of contact with the element. This is particularly true if there is the slightest v slippage of the upper capping belt with respect to the lower container supporting belt, or if the container slips with regard to either belt.

I have found that a high rate of production with completely uniform sealing can be obtained by stopping the containers in order to seal the same. The high rate of satisfactory production 2 obtained. is due to the fact that there is less likelihood of containers being upset during the sealing action, with resultant long stoppages to clear out the spilled contents, and also because no containers need be discarded and returned through the machine because of improperly applied caps. At the same time, the arrangement of the present invention occupies a minimum floor space. It is also to be noted that the use of a sealing head of non-continuous type contributes to a more eflicient and uniform vacuum effect within the containers because of certain factors hereinafter discussed in connection with the operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capping element which is particularly adapted for the quick and proper sealing of containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control for a capping mechanism which is actuated by contact of a container therewith. Such an arrangement is highly desirable because it eliminates the necessity of moving containers through the machine in carefully spaced relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container actuated capping control of such design as to insure that the container will be stationary when the sealing is performed, thereby making it certain that every type of cap will be properly sealed and not damaged and that a high net rate of production will be obtained.

One reason why container sealing machines of the present type have heretofore been provided with continuously moving sealing elements was because it was thought that any stoppage of the containers to seal the same might cause the containers to be upset, or their contents to be so disturbed that some portion thereof would be spilled. It has been found that the present invention, involving'moving the container onto a stationary support while its upper portion is gripped, prevents upsetting and causes no spilling of containers filled to the customary levels. Also, by stopping the containers to seal the same, all

f the disadvantages of'a continuously movable sealing element are eliminated and every type of cap can be efliciently sealed upon containers. As has been stated above, the continuous system is only efficiently applicable with certain types of caps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container holding and centering arrangement which is adapted to engage the containers while caps are being applied thereto.

As has been hereinbefore indicated, considerable difliculty has been 2; cricnced in prior capping machines because containers were frequently upset upon contact with the cap applying dz vice. By the present invention, the containers are securely held at the time that they come into contactwith the cap applying mechanism, all possibility of the containers falling over thereby eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holding mechanism which is simple in construction, will smoothly and efficiently engage and center containers, and which is readily adjustable for containers of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap applying and sealing arrangement which includes means to properly level caps upon containers immediately prior to the sealing action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings, wherein:

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of the central portion of an apparatus such as disclosed in said original application, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a detail view showing a sealing head control mechanism.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 6, but on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a front view of a sealing head control mechanism.

Figure 6 is an end View of a container centering element, the view being taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a horizontal section on the line 'I''I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a capping head controlling circuit, and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic View of a second capping control and the circuit therefor.

The structure of the present invention is here lnafter described in connection with a container sealing apparatus such as disclosed in my abovementioned original application, Serial No. 371,961 and the patent thereon. The general arrangement and operation of the present invention in connection with such an apparatus may be generally described as follows: The numeral Ill designates the table of the original application apparatus along which a continuously moving endless conveyor II travels. A chamber or tunnel I2 extends above the table Ill and a steam atmosphere may be maintained within the tunnel by steam flowing from a supply duct I3 as described in said original application.

Containers C moving through the apparatus enter at the left hand end of Figures 1 and 3 upon the endless belt or conveyor I I and are continued .past the steam duct I3 which maintains a quiet cloud of steam in the upper portion of the tunnel. As a container'moves past the duct I3 its upper portion comes into contact with the belts iii of a container centering device I1 (Figure 1). As is best shown in Figure 6, upper and lower belts I6 are provided on each side of the path of movement of the containers so that the containers will be held upright by the belts. The belts I6 move at the same speed as the conveyor II. Immediately after a container has moved into engagement with the centering device I! the leading'edge of the mouth of the container will contact with the lowermost cap C in a cap chute 'or cap applying means I8 and the continuing movement of the container will cause this cap to be withdrawn from the chute and dropped to a loosely applied position upon the mouth of the container.

As soon as a cap C has been substantially removed from the chute I8, its upper portion will come into contact with the forward edge of a plate I9 resiliently mounted upon and forming part of the capping plate or member 20. Plate I9 will level the cap upon the container mouth.

As is indicated in Figure 1, while the above cap leveling action is taking place, the base of the container will be moving onto a fixed supportplate 2I forming part of the table ill of the apparatus. Also, the lower portion of the container will then come into contact with a trip device 22 which is shown in top plan in Figure 3. As the movement of the container with conveyor I I and holding device 11 continues, the container will force the trip device 22 laterally out of its path. Laterally adjustable guide rails 22a will prevent the container from moving laterally.

Asthe forward movement of the container stops, because its base has moved entirely oil. conveyor II to stand entirely upon plate 2| as indicated in Figure 3, and also because its upper portion has moved out of contact with the holding device II, trip 22 will be forced laterally from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to cause a switch device such as shown in Figure 2 or Figure 5 to actuate the delayed action electrical circuit diagrammatically shown in Figure 8. When the Figure 8 circuit is finally completed, as hereinafter described, and by which time all movement of the container will have ceased, the electromagnet 24 shown encased in Figure l and diagrammatically shown in Figure 8 will be energized so that the capping plate 28 will move downwardly to compress the light springs above plate I9. As a result, the loosely applied cap will be forced to a sealed position upon the stationary container. When the capping member 20 has moved downwardly the proper distance, a limit switch 25 will beopened to de-energize the electromagnet 24. Springs 26 will then lift the capping head 20 so as to leave the container standing free upon the fixed plate 2 I.

Contact of the succeeding container with the container shown in Figure 3 will position the latter off the plate 2i and upon the out-iced portion of endless conveyor I I. It will be noted from Figure 1 that the upper run of conveyor II dips down beneath the stationary plate or support 2 I.

As is described in said original application, during the movement of the container through the steam chamber I2, and before a cap is applied thereto, the head space of the container can be filled with steam from the cloud of steam present in t 0 upper portion of the chamber. After the col er has been sealed, as just described, it will lllOVE from the chamber through a gradually decreasing cloud of steam so that the steam entrapped in the head space will condense to create a low pressure condition therein which will assist in holding the cap in sealed position.

Referring to the structure of the present invention in detail, Figures 6 and '7 illustrate the manner in which the container centering and. holding device ll is mounted in the opposite side walls ill of the tunnel or chamber l2. Referring to these figures, each belt I6 is supported in a U-shaped bracket which includes two longitudinally spaced pins .33 and The pin 33 is sli= ble in a bore formed in a plate which closes a large rectangular opening in the corresponding side wall 3i of the steam chamber. As best shown in Figure '7, the other pin 34 is siidablc in a hollow sleeve 31 threaded in the plate 35. The inner end of each sleeve 31 is counter-bored and 'a coil spring 38 surrounding the pin 34 is seated in this counter-bore. The position of each bracket 32 with respect to the center line of the container supporting conveyor H may be adjusted inwardly by rotation of the holding wheel 39 fixed to each threaded sleeve 3?, because the sleeve will act upon the coil spring 38 to force the bracket 32 inwardly by a straight line of V rectilinear movement. The belts it can be moved outwardly by pressure upon the same and, because of their resilient mounting, will accommodate themselves to variations in containers C.

The holding and centering device i1 may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine by releasing the bolts 40 (Figure 7) which extend through slots to hold the plates 35 to the side walls of the chamber [2.

Each U-shaped bracket 32 includes a rear wall 45, a lower wall 46 and an upper wall 41. As shown at the bottom of Figure 7, each lower wall 46 is cut away at its infeed end. The outfeed end of each bracket has jcurnaled therein a vertical shaft 50 to which is fixed, between the upper and lower'plates 46 and 47, a pulley 5!. An idler pulley 52 is supported on a stud 53 at the infeed end of each bracket and the belts 16 move about these pairs of pulleys. The inner run of each belt I6 is supported or held inwardly with respect to the center line of the machine by small idler rolls 54 positioned in the brackets 32. As best illustrated in Figure '7, the series of rolls 54 does not extend entirely to the infeed end of a bracket 32 and because of this, as well as because of the fact that the infeed end pulley 52 i of reduced diameter, each belt It will have the in feed portion of its inner run slightl inclined so as to assist in the centering action of containers. However, it will be noted that the remaining portime of the inner run of each holding belt is positively held straight by the small rolls so that a uniform pressure will be applied to containers during their movement with such portion of the belts.

- It will likewise be noted that each belt [6 and its supporting bracket 32 is resiliently mounted, as an entirety, for inward and outward movement. That is, as a container causes the holding belt to be forced outwardly to a slight extent 5 through the side wall of the steam tunnel, that holding belt and its supporting bracket 32 will move bodily outwardly along a straight line and with no swinging movement.

As best indicated in Figures 1 and '7, each shaft 56 carrying a driven pulley 5i oi the holding device I! has a sprocket wheel 58 fixed thereto which is engaged by a sprocket'chain 59 extending from the outfeed end of the steam tunnel and about a large sprocket wheel 60 fixed to a vertical shaft Bl journaled in bracket 62 extending from the upper portion of the side walls of the steam chamber. The shafts tl are driven from the same source of power as conveyor belt I I.

The cap supply and applying chute l preferably comprises two spaced guideways 65, each of well-known angular form to provide a shelf to support one edge of the cap and a shoulder to guide the cap. The major portion of the chute is surrounded by a casing which may include an electric heater. The guideways 65 terminate in lugs or shoulders 65 of well-known form-which serve to stop the downward movement of the line of caps. As indicated in Figure 1, the lower portion of the skirt of the lowermost cap will bear against these shoulders with the intermediate unsupported portion of the skirt extending into the path of the lip of an advancing container. As a result, the container will lift the cap over the shoulders 86 so that it will drop to a substantially leveled position on the container mouth, the succeeding cap then dropping down against the shoulders 66. The movement of a cap from its substantially vertical position in the chute to a substantially horizontal position without sidewise tilt is assisted by roller 6! journaled at the lower end of a weighted plunger 68 slidably mounted in an aperture in the upper wall: of the steam chamber.

During its leveling movement the top of the cap is also continually engaged by the spring plate I9 of the capping device. Plate I9 includes upwardly extending studs 69 which fit in sockets in the capping plate 20 to thereby guide the vertical movement of plate i8. Plate I9 is urged to the normal downward limit position illustrated in Figure 1 by relatively light coil springs 10, one of which is positioned between each corner of plate i9 and the corresponding corner of the capping plate 20. It will be noted that the infeed end of plate I9 is beveled to guide the caps beneath the plate. I

The above cap applying arrangement including the roller 5'! and plate is serves to loosely apply all caps in a substantially level position without possibility of the cap dropping from. the container. A particularly desirable feature is that the cap is firmly held from the moment that it leaves the chute l8 until it is finally sealed.

Referring to Figure l, the capping member or plate 20 is mounted on the top wall of the tunnel immediately adjacent the cap applying chute l8 and is rigidly fixed to a pair of rods T6 extending through apertures in the top wall of chamber 12. The rods 6 are secured at their upper ends to a bar TI, this portion of each rod being threaded to receive nuts to bear on the upper and lower surfaces of bar ll so that its position with respect to the rods can be adjusted. Intermediate its length each rod 75 is provided an adjustable collar 25a and a coil spring 25 is positioned between each such collar and the upper wall of the steam chamber. These springs serve to urge the rods and thereby capping plate 20 to an upward position.

A plunger '19 is fixed to the bar 1'! and carries a plate 19a. which is urged to an upward position by a coil spring 80. The upper surface of plate 79a is adapted to contact with round disks 8| rotatable on pins 82 and within a cut-out portion 83 of a lever 84. Plunger 19 extends through the cut-out and between the disks. The lever 84 has one end pivoted as indicated at 85 to a post 86 and the other end of the lever is pivotally connected as at 8'! to a vertical link 88'pivoted to the armature 89 of electromagnet 24.

It will be noted that downward movement of armature 89 will cause the disks 8| to act upon spring mounted plunger E9 and thereby depress the capping plate 29. The upper spring 89 will serve as a resilient connection to compensate for containers of slightly greater than normal height and the lower springs 26 will serve to return the capping plate 2% to normal position.

As shown in Figure 3, the container-contacted trip 22 for the capping member 20 is of toggle form and comprises a lever 9| pivoted at Site the stationary plate 2i and carrying a roller 93 at its free end. Also, the free end of lever Ell is pivotally connected to a lever 94 pivoted to a long link 95 which is suitably held against other than; substantially longitudinal movement. As ShOWIlLiHEFYigUlB B, the point at'which arm 94 is connected tolink 95 may be adjusted by a nut engaging aslot 96 inthe link. Thefar end of link:95 is pivoted toone arm of a bell crank 91, the other arm of the bell crank having a link 98 extending therefrom to a casing 99 secured to the machine base'and enclosing a switch device 23 such-asshown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, or the switch device 23a shown in Figure 2'.

Referring to the switch device 23 shown in figures 4 and 5, link 98 may include a turnbuckle and extends through an aperture in the side wall of the housing 99 for the device 23. Within the housing, therod 98 has a block I99 fixed thereto and the rod is urged to the right as viewed in Figure 5 by a coil spring I9I which surrounds the rod between the far wall of the housing and block I99; Block I99 carries a swinging pawl I93 which normally hangs downwardly alongside a vertical shoulder I94 on the block I99 as shown in Figure 5 and has its lower face I95 inclined. A block". of insulating material I98 is positioned in the lower portion of housing 99 by means of screws and a pair of spring blades I98 and I99 are mounted on upper stepped faces of block I98 by means of screws H9 and III, respectively, which also serve as binding posts for the contacts. The spring'blades I98'and I99 carry contacts at their. free ends and are normally in the separated position illustrated in Figure 5, this position being controlled by the adjusting screws I I2 and I I3.

In the operation of'the' switch device 23, as a container is moved from the infeed portion of supporting conveyor II to the position on the stationary plate 2I indicated in Figure 3, the forward and lower portion of the container will engage the roller 93 of trip 22 to move the toggle mechanism towards straightened position. As a result, the long link 95 will move to the right with regard to Figure 3, thereby moving the link 98 to' the left in Figure 5. Such movement of link 98 will carry the block I99 to the left so that the pointof'pawl I93 will contact with a triangular nub II4 which extends upwardly from the upper contact blade I98, depressing this plate so as to bring its contact into engagement with the upwardly facing contact on lower blade I99 to cause-a. circuit to be actuated as hereinafter described. Rod 98 will continue its movement I to the left in Figure 5 so that pawl I93 will continue past the nub II 4 to permit the blade I98 to rise so that only a momentary electrical current will flowv between the contacts carried'on thebla'des.

The containerwill remain in the stationary position indicated in Figure 3 until the succeeding container contacts with it to move it from the stationary plate 2I to'the outfeed portion of conveyor I I and the'pawl I93 will remain on the left handside of the nub I I4 while the container is'in this-position. When the container shown in Figure 3 moves to the right to enable the toggle mechanism to resume its normal position in the path of the next container, rod 98 will return to the Figure 5 position causing pawl I93 to ride over the nub I I4. However, because the right hand face of pawl I93 is inclined and pawl I93 is free'to swing in a clockwise direction, it will simply ride over nub II4 without depressing the spring blade I98. Hence, the contact element of blade I98 will not come into engagement with. the contact oflower blade I99 during returnmovement.

Figure..8lshows the. control circuitof the mechanism' whereby. the closing of the contacts of the. switch device. 23 of Figures 4 and 5 will cause the,

capping'plate 29 to be moved into engagement with a container on the stationary supporting plate 2i. Referring to Figure 8, it will be noted that the spring blade I98 is connected to a main conductor. I25 by a lead I28 while the stationary blade I99 is connected by a lead I21 to the coil I 28 of a retarded relay, the coil being connected by a lead I29 to the other main conductor I39. When the contact of spring blade I98 is moved into engagement with the contact of spring blade I99, coil I28 will be momentarily energized. However, since the relay is of the retarded type, it willnot move its armature I3I into engagement with contacts I32 and I33 until a fraction of a second has elapsed, thereby insuring that the movement ofthe container upon the sta tionary supporting plate 2I is entirely completed and the container is entirely stationary before the capping head 29 begins its descent.

When relay I28 moves its armature I3I to bridgethe contacts I32 and I33, it will energize one. coil. I34 of a double-acting relay since the contact I33 is connected to one side of coil I 34 by a lead I35 and the coil is also connected by a lead I 36 to the main conductor I39. The other contact I32 is connected by a lead I31 with the opposite main conductor I25. This energization of coil I34, which is only momentary, will draw an armature I38 into engagement with fixed contacts I39 and I49 but armature I38 is mechanically interlocked so as to remain in the position to which it is urged. Contact I49 is connected by a lead I4I with main conductor I39 while contact I39 is in circuit through a lead I42 with the coil I 43 of the electromagnet 24 of the capping head, this coil being connected at its opposite end by a lead I44 to the main conductor I25. Energizationof coil I43 will cause its armature 89 to be drawn downwardly so that the right hand end (Figure 1) of lever 84 will be drawn downwardly thereby depressing the capping plate 29.

When the right hand portion of lever 84 reaches its extreme lower position, it will engage a button 25 forming part of a switch element 25a mounted as illustrated in Figure 1, depressing the button 25 so as to cause the contact carried by the latter into engagement with a fixed contact of. switch 25a. Moving contact 25 is connected by a lead I41 to the opposite coil I48 of the double-acting and mechanically interlocked relay and this coil is also connected by a lead I49 to the main conductor I39, while the fixed contact I46 isconnected by a lead I59 with the opposite main conductor I25. Hence, when lever 84 depresses button 25, it will close the circuit just described, so as to energize the coil I48 to thereby return the mechanically interlocked armature I38 of the double-acting relay to the position illustrated in Figure 8, thereby de-energizing the capping head actuating coil I43 so that the springs'26 may return the capping plate 29 and armature 89 to raised position. As soon as lever 84 rises, the contact 25 will also rise, but armature I 38 will remain in the Figure 8 position until coil I34 is again energized.

It will thus be observed that the capping head cannotbe moved downwardly to capping position until the container is absolutely stationary upon the stationary supporting plate 2| and that as soon as it reaches full downward position, its energizing coil I43 will be ale-energized so that it will be promptly returned to a raised position out of the path of the succeeding container.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified form of circuit controlling device 23a which may be placed in the Figure 8 circuit instead of the device 23 of Figures land 5. In the Figure 2 form the link 98 extends through a bracket 98a into a housing 99a of the device 23a. A spring |2| positioned between a collar on link 98 and the'outer wall of the housing serves to urge the link 98 to an outward position, that is, to the right in Figure 2. The inner end of link 98 bears against the free end of a lever I22 pivoted at I23 and which lever is normally held to the right by means of a leaf spring I24 fixed to the lever and having its outer end bearing upon a pin I25. The opposite end of lever I22 pivotally carries a pawl I26 urged to upward position by means of a spring I21 surrounding its pivot. This upward position is limited by a 'set screw I28 adjustably mounted in a lateralextension of lever I22.

The outer end of pawl I26 engages a ratchet wheel I29 which-is also engaged by a second pawl I30 pivoted at |3|. Pawl I30 carries a movable contact |32 normally out of engagement" with a fixed spring contact I33. It will be noted from Figure 2 that movable contact I32 bears against the pivot end of lever I22 when its pawl I30 i's'seated in one of the pocketsof the ratchet wheel and is then out of engagement with fixed contact I33. The pivot end of lever I22 thereby serves as a limit stop for movable contact I32. The contacts I32 and I33 are suitably insulated from their operating elements.

In the operation of the control mechanism 23a. of Figure 2, as a container is moved from the infeed portion of supporting conveyor II to the position on the stationary plate 2| indicated in Figure 3, the forward and lower portion or the container will'engage the roller 93 of trip 22 to move the toggle mechanism toward straightened position. As a result, the long link 95 will move to the right with regard to Figure 3, thereby moving the link 98 to the left in Figure 2. Such movement of link 98 will cause lever I22 to swing to the left and a corresponding movement will be imparted to the pawl I26. At the instant that the container entirely leaves conveyor II and holding device I1, the link 95 will have moved far enough to move link 98 a proper distance to rotate ratchet wheel I29 in a clockwise direction sufficient for one tooth of the ratchet wheel to move beneath the second pawl |30 and lift the same, thereby swinging contact I32 against contact I33. However, pawl I30 will immediately drop behind the tooth which has raised it and its engagement with contact I32 will thereby be broken.

The closing of the circuit between the contacts I32 and I33 will energize the retarded relay I28 as described in connection with Figure 8 so as to set up the Figure 8 circuit to move the capping element downwardly to move the applied cap to sealed position after the container has reached a fully stationary position, all in the manner described in connection with Figure 8.

With the Figure .2 device 23a, when the container shown in Figure 3 moves to the right to enable the toggle mechanism to resume its normal position in the path of the next container, link 98 will return to the right causing pawl I26 to ride back'and drop behind the next tooth of the ratchet wheel. The second pawl I will, of course, prevent the ratchet wheel from rotating in 'a-co'unter-clockwise direction during thedragging movement ofpawl I26 along the ratchet wheel. Spring I24 moves lever I22 to the right as soon as the pressure on link is released and the spring I21 holds pawl I26 in the upper position shown in Figure 2 though permitting it to swing downwardly sufficiently to ride back over the adjacent tooth of the ratchet wheel.

It will be understood that to adjust the machine for operation, the trip 22 will be so positioned that it will be actuated by the final movement of a container upon stationary plate 2| so that capping plate 20 will not descend until the container is absolutely stationary. The capping head will also be so positioned that it will be centrally over the container. Thus, the cap will be moved to sealed position by a force applied in an entirely vertical direction.

Figure 9 diagrammatically illustrates a modified circuit to control the operation of the capping element 20. The Figure 9 circuit may be used in place of that illustrated in Figure 8 and does not require use of the switch elements of Figures 2 and 5. In addition, it does not require use of the trip linkage arrangement illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 9, the numeral 22a designates a trip in the form of an electrical switch, preferably of the type known as a micro switch. The switch 22a would be positioned above and to one side of the stationary container supporting plate 2| at much the same location as the toggle trip device 22 of Figure 3. This positioning of the switch 22a will result in closing of the switch by a container an instant before the container has moved entirely upon the stationary supporting plate 2| to thereby come to a stop on that plate. The movable contact element 200 of switch 22a, or at least the container engaging portion of element 200, will project toward the center line of the conveyor II and will be moved outwardly or away from that center line by the engagementof a container with the element.

The movable contact 200 of switch 220. is connected by a lead 20| to a source of power. A.

second lead 202 extends from the opposite polarity of the source of power and to the coil of electromagnet 24 which is adapted to move the armature 89 of capping head 26 downwardly. A lead 203 extends from the fixed contact 204 of switch 22a, lead 203 being connected by a short lead 205 to one end of a coil 206 of a retardedclosing relay generally designated by the numeral 201. A lead 208 connects the other end of coil 206 to the lead 202. connects the lead 203 to one contact 2|0 included in relay 201. A lead 2|2 extends from the other" contact 2 of relay 201 and through the normally closed contacts of a retarded-opening relay 2|3 to a lead 2|4 connected to the coil I43 of electromagnet 24.

The retarded-opening relay 2|3 has its coil 2|5 connected by a lead 2"; to lead 2|2 and by a lead 2|| to lead 202. The armature 2|8 of relay 2|5 normally bridges the fixed contacts of this relay, while armature 2|9 of retarded-closing relay 20'! is normally out of engagement with the contacts of that relay, all as shown in Figure 9.

The operation of the Figure 9 circuit is as follows: When a container is moving upon the container supporting plate 2|, and before the container reaches a stationary position, the side wall of the container will engage the movable contact 200 of switch 22a so as to close that switch. As a result, with the armatures of the relays 201 and H3 in the position shown in Fi ure 9 current A branch lead 209.

,s will fiow from one side of the power source, through lead 20!, and switch 22a, lead 203, coil 206 of retarded-closing relay 201 and by leads 208 and 202 back to the power source.

Relay 21)! has'a retarded action of such extent that the contacts carried by its armature 2|9 will not be brought into bridging engagement with the contacts 2H] and 2!! until enough time has elapsed to enable the container to move entirely oif conveyor H and thereby reach a stationary position on plate 2|. When the contacts 210 and 2!! are thus bridged, the coil of electrom agnet 24 will be placed in parallel with the coil 206 of relay 201, the flow from contact 2H being through lead 2|2, through the bridged contacts of relay 2l 3, lead 2l4, coil I43 of electromagnet 24, and lead 202 to the source of power.

As a result, the capping head armature 89 will be moved downwardly to swing lever 84 downwardly about its pivot 85 to thereby move capping element 20 down to move the cap to sealed position on the container.

At the same instant that the closing of relay 2Bl places the coil I43 of capping head electromagnet in parallel with the coil 2060f relay 201, the coil 2l5 of retarded-opening relay 2l3 will also be placed 'in parallel with the two coils just mentioned. That is, the bridging action of armature 2l9 will cause current to flow in lead 2H5, through coil 215 and lead 211. The coil US of the normally contact-bridging relay 2l3 will thereby have current flow therethrough. How ever, becauserelay 2|3 is also of the retarded type, the capping head 2!} will descend to cap sealingposition before the armature 2 [8 of relay 2!? moves away from its fixed contacts to thereby break the circuit which energizes the capping head coil M3,, Obviously, when the relay H3 is fully energized; no current will flow through lead 2M to coil [43 and the spring 26 can lift the capping head to its normal position. By this time, belt II will move another container into contact with the container which has just been sealed so that the sealed container will be moved out of engagement with switch 22a, Therefore, switch 22a. will open by spring action and the circuits through the coils 20.5 and 2I5 of the relays 207 and 215, respectively, will be de-energized so that these relays will immediately assume their normal positions shown in Figure 9.

lt is to be noted that since the steam locked in the head space of a sealed container has no pressure-and because the container will be surrounded by steam at a temperature identical with that ofithe steam sealed within the head spaces, the sealed cap has no tendency whatever to rise from sealed position when the capping head rises. This same situation holds true when the sealed container is moved oiT stationaryplate 2| by the succeeding container and into the open atmosphere upon the outfeed portion ofconveyor H. That is, because the steam in the container head space is only at atmospheric pressure, it cannot cause thevv cap to lift and, therefore, no means to hold the cap sealed during cooling is required. By the present apparatus andmethod, the container and particularly, the cap will both be simultaneously and uniformly subjected to atmospheric temperature almost immediately after capping has been performed and quick uniform cooling to contract the steam is assured.

Since the present method and apparatus insures that caps will have no tendency to rise from containersv between themoment they have been moved; to a sealed position. and the time when 12 the Ste m cend' nses t create. a lo pressure condition in the container head space, the invention may be used with caps which are held sealed primarily by a low-pressure condition as well as with caps provided with some type of locking means.

s ha b e ndiq e abo e h ion f a vertically moving capping or sealing element in he r s t ntion s ound t b hly advantageous and a considerable improvement upon a continuously moving capping element of endless form. More particularly, while an endless ca ping orsealing element has the theoretical value of sealing containers at greater speed because it does not require that the movement of the containers be stopped, this theoretical advantage is altogether ofiset by the fact that containers may be upset or their caps either distorted or dislodged by the endless and moving ement- The capping element of the present invention, with its control so designed that the capping head cannot descend until the container is stationary, entirely eliminates all of the defects of the endless type of head. Also, sinceby the present invention the capping element is immediately re tracted or raised as to be out of contact with the container whichhas just been sealed, it is not necessary to widely space the containers delivered to the apparatus, That is, containers can be closely spaced when delivered to the apparatus because the stopping, ot a container for sealing is only momentary and the followin container can, therefore, quickly contact with it to place it upon the outfeed portion of the supporting conveyor.

The use of a quickly operable sealing element such as provided by the present invention has the further advantage of insuring-that steam will be quickly entrapped within the container head space while it is still at maximum temperature. That is, with the endlesstype of sealing element, the cap is only gradually applied to the container and the steam withinthe container head space may condense or becooled before the sealing is entirely, performed Naturally, if; any portion of the steam condenses, air may enter the head space to raise the final pressure in the containerhead space.

Continuously movihgendless sealing elements usually extend from oneflend of the steam tun nel, The positioning of; the present sealing element entirelywithin the highly heated steam chamber causes the sealing element to be maintained at a high temperature so that it cannot condense steam trapped in the container head space. In machines of the endless belt type, the belt becomes cooled, either because cooling liquid is directed upon. it or because itmoves into a cooler atmosphere as indicatedfabove. Naturally,

if a cap is not yet fully. sealed upon the container at the time that this coolingbegins, condensation of steam will occur, with arresu-lting higher head space pressure.

The use of a reciprocating capping elementis initial contact with theseaIingI-element due to 1 the fact that theilugsprvent -thbm from-beingreadily moved to a sealed position upon the container. For example, if a lug type cap moves adjacent the sealing element with one of its lugs resting upon the mouth of the container, it may not be subsequently properly seated by an endless sealing element, but, instead, may be bent or otherwise distorted or entirely knocked ofi the container. The arrangement of the present invention is therefore equally useful and eificient in applying caps of both the lug type as well as those which rely primarily upon the lowered pressure within the head space to retain them in sealed position.

As has been stated above, it has heretofore been thought that if containers were stopped for seal ing,they might fall over, or at least that any liquid contents would be so disturbed as to cause spilling. Therefore, continuously moving sealing elements were believed necessary, even though such elements themselves may cause upsetting and improper application of caps and are not satisfactory for sealing lug type caps. I have discovered that the stopping of containers filled to the" usual extent by movement on to a stationary plate, as opposed to the stopping of a container by the positive stopping of a driven chain or other container engaging element, with its resultant vibration, does not cause upsettin of containers or any spilling of their contents. Hence, the use of the much more practical vertically moving sealing element is made entirely feasible.

The general operation of the present apparatus and method have been described in the opening portion of this specification and the specific operation of the various elements have been described in connection with the detailed description of the construction of such elements.

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being indicated in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a capping apparatus, a stationary support, means to move a container onto the support, a capping head above the support, means to actuate the capping head comprising a trip adapted to be moved by a container, and an electrical circuit including a retarding device, said circuit operatively connecting the trip and capping head so that the operation of the capping head by the circuit will be delayed until the container has reached a stationary position on said support.

2. In a capping apparatus, a container support, a capping head above the container support, means to move containers onto the support, and means to actuate the capping head comprising a trip adapted to be moved by a container, a reciprocable member operatively connected to the trip, a pair of electrical contacts associated with said member, a pawl pivoted on said member, and

means to hold said pawl against movement about its pivot during movement of said member in one direction whereby it will move one of said contacts into engagement with the other during such movement.

3. In a capping apparatus, a container support, a capping head above said container support, and means to actuate said capping head comprising a trip adapted to be moved by a container, a link connected to said trip, a pivoted lever having its free end in contact with said link, a pawl carried by said lever, a ratchet wheel adapted to be rotated by reciprocatory movement of said pawl, a second pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, an electrical contact carried by said second pawl, and a fixed electrical contact adapted to be engaged by said first contact durin rotation of said ratchet wheel.

4. In a capping apparatus, a container support, a capping head above the container support, means to move containers onto the support, and means to actuate the capping head comprising a trip adapted to be moved by a container, a movable member operatively connected to the trip, a pair of electrical contacts associated with said member, a pivoted pawl carried by said mem-' ber, and means to hold said pawl against movement about its pivot during movement of said member in one direction whereby it will move one of said contacts into engagement with the other during such movement.

5. In a capping apparatus, a base including a container support, a substantially horizontal link pivoted adjacent one end to said base," means to move the opposite end of said link downwardly, a capping head reciprocable in said base, means to urge said capping head upwardly, a resilient operative connection between said capping head and the intermediate portion of said link, a container contacting plate on the underside of said capping head, and spring means to urge said plate downwardly, said plate having its entry end beveled in a vertical plane and downwardly toward its outfeed end to level caps upon containers moving beneath the same.

6. In a container capping apparatus, a fixed supporting plate, conveyor means to deliver containers to the plate, a capping element above said plate, and capping element actuating means controlled by movement of a container onto said plate, said actuating means includingmeans to retard actuation of the capping element sufiiciently that the latter will not contact with the container cap until the container is stationary on said plate.

7. In a capping apparatus, a support upon which a container is adapted to stand stationary, means to move the container onto the support, a vertically reciprocating capping head above the container support, a capping head controlling trip above and movable with respect to said support and normally arranged in the path of movement of a container onto said support, said movable trip having a predetermined stroke carrying it out of the path of movement of the container upon contact of a container therewith, and means to retard capping movement of the capping head until the container is stationary on said support and said trip has been given its full stroke by the container.

8. In a capping apparatus, means to move a container to a stationary position, a capping element, an electromagnet to actuate said capping element to container sealing position, and means to energize said electromagnet including an electrical switch adapted to be contacted by a container, and a retarded-action relay.

9. In a capping apparatus, means to move a container to a stationary position, a capping element, an electromagnet to actuate said capping element to container sealing position, means to energize said electromagnet .including an electrical switch adapted to be contacted by a container and a retarded-action relay, and means to deenergize said electromagnet including a second retarded-action relay.

10. In a capping apparatus, means to move a container to a stationary position, a capping ele ment, an electromagnet to actuate said capping element to container sealing position, and means :to control said electromagnet 1 comprising :5. nor- -mally'open switchiin series :withthecoil ofa relay so that closing theswitchnwillienergize said relay, said 'electromagnetbeingin parallel with thecoil of saidrelaythroiigh'the relay contacts when said relay isenergized, saidtrelaybeing of the retarded type whereby theelectromagnetwiil .not: be energizedto operatesaidxcapping element until an interval ,after a container closes said switch.

:11. In acapping apparatus,means:to movea container to a stationaryposition,.a capping ele- .ment,.an electromagnet:to;actuate said capping element to container sealing :position,.means to .control said ,electromagnet comprising-anormally open switch in series wit-hthe coil of azrelayso -that closing of'the switch'will energize said-re- :lay, saidgelectromagnet beinginparallel with the :coi1-.,of.:saidre1ay through the relay contacts when .saijdprelay is energized, said-relaybeing of the restartled type whereby .the electromagnet will not :be. energized to operate said 0 apping element until. an-interval afterza container closes 'saidswitch, arsecond relay having its ;coi1'in parallel with the coil ofsaidfirst relay throughthepcontacts of the latter .whenxsaid, first relay, is energized,. said. second, relay .normally,cl.osing the circuit between said first relay and said.;electromagnet, so that energization ;of .said second relay will \de-energize said capping elementactuating electromagnet,;;said;sec0nd :relay :being of theretarded type so that,Saidelectromagnet will 110121118 .de-ener- 'gizecluntil after' the: capping element-has moved to container sealing position.

12. A container capping-apparatus of the character described in claim 'fi wherein the conveyor "meansincludesanelement to center and grip the containers only during their movement there- :with.

HARRY A. RAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of'record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,392,142 Donovan Apr. 29, 1919 1,469,614 Benton Oct. 2, 1923 1,543,843 Gwinn June .30, .1925 1,669,726 Seale, .May 15,1928 2,026,118 'Barnby Dec.,3l,'l935 2,641,891 White May 26, 1936 2,076,052 White Ap1. '6,,1937 2,092,937 Spengler Sept. 14, 1937 2,158,675 Davies May ,16, 1939 2,274,019 Weider et a1 Eeb. 24, v1942 2,296,013 Bell Sept.,15,.1942 2,316,654 Stover Apr. 13,1943 2,319,213 Davies May 18,1943 2,351,348 ,Mair June 13,1944 2,351,349 Mair June .13, 1944 2,372,646 Barnby et al Apr. .3, 1945 2,498,447 Rau Oct. 1, 1946 

